The 2017/18 season was not one to remember at Ibrox as Rangers failed to compete with their local rivals in the domestic league. They are now desperate to make some changes to the squad and have managed to land Steven Gerrard as the manager of the club next season.
They have already made a few of impressive signings in Scott Arfield, Ovie Ejaria and Jamie Murphy but the former Liverpool midfielder seems determined to land more first-team stars to improve the club’s chances to fight for silverware next season. So it does not come as a surprise that Gerrard is still looking to sign some potential superstars this summer and one such player now linked with a move to Rangers is Oliver McBurnie.
Having started his senior career with Bradford City, the 22-year old spent a long time at the academy at Leeds United and continues to be linked with a move back to Elland Road. However, his impressive outings for Barnsley in the second half of the previous season, where he was loaned out by Swansea City, have seen him gain a lot of attention in the transfer market this summer.
At just 22, he showed great composure and technique in the final third, grabbing 9 goals in just 16 Championship starts after his move to Oakwell in January. However, he could not save the club from dropping into the League One but his exploits around players who were mediocre for most of the season shows that he has the quality to lead a side, even at such a tender age.
He has also managed to break into the national side and is regarded as one of the most exciting talents in Scotland at the moment and he might jump at a chance to play for one of the giants of Scottish football next season. But should Rangers make a move for him?
A versatile attacker, who can lead the attack or play on either flank, McBurnie is an old-fashioned CF, who loves to dominate the box. He is strong in the air and got the better of many a CBs in the Championship last season. He is also deadly in front of goal and can score from half chances on a consistent basis.
He is also adept at dropping deep to help in build-up play but is at his best playing as a target man, something he did really well at Oakwell. Rangers have used Alfredo Morelos to decent effect last season while Eduardo Herrera and young Ryan Hardie are the only other options in that role for the club at the moment, making McBurnie a necessity.
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He adds a different dimension to the attack, is a decent backup to Morelos and is a player Rangers should definitely retain their interest in this summer.
